The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-12-07
TELEGRAPHIC TICKS.
Annual Report of the Secre'
tary Of War.
Az INTERESTING DOCUMENT.
Numerous Suggestions and Recon-
mendations - congregational
Rubber Trust-Fire-Etc.
Report of the secretary of War

WASHINGTON, December 6.-In refer
ence to the pay department o.
the army the report of the Score
tary Of War says: There is g
frequent clashIug OF authority between
the War and Treasury Departments, in
regard 70 the payments directed by the
former. To the great embarrassment
of the di5bursing officer, accounts are
disalcwed. The disallowance of pay
ments made by and under such
authority works great hardship 10 the
disburslng officer, as, on the one hand,
he is confronted with the charge of dis
obedience. and on the other, OF assum-
ing liability for which either he or his
securities will be held pecuniarily re-
sponsible. In order to prevent this, L
recommend that the powers OF the re-
spective departments be clearly defined
by legislative act"
Copious quotations are made from the
report of the Chief of Ordnance, relative
to the success of domestic manufac-
lures, in producing high-grade steel,
and the adVisability of increased ep-
preparations for the supply of ordnance
for experiments with dynamite torpedo
guns and those now in progress
with shells charged with high explo-
sives fired by means of gunpowder.
Including in his report, the Secretary
SAYS: The result of examinations for
promotion under the civil service reg
uIations, which were applied to the
War Department, in May, were satisfac-
tory. The total number of clerks ex-
amined was LOLA, of which 963 or per
per cent. were passed.
"I renew the recommendations con-
9ainod II, prpUiOnS rQpOYfS and in
those of my predecessors, for the ap-
pointment of an Assistant, Secretary of
War, and of an Assistant Attorney
General, to advise and as;istiu the legal
and technical questions which daily
occur"
Attention is called to the fact
that the Pacific Coast is destitute of
Notifications, guns and armament of
every description, while San Francisco
is without a single gun which can be
fir: d with safety with the present
charges of powder and modern pro-
jectiles.
Favorable endorsement is also given
to the Lieutenant-Generals recon-
mendation that the present strength of
the army be increased by 5000, and
particular attention is called to the
Importance of the increase of the
artillery service and also certain
changes in the present organization of
artillery regiments.
The tecretary suggests that the
number of courtmartial trials can be
much reduced if provision be made for
the punishment of minor Ofenses with
out summCning a courtmartial, as indi-
Gated in the annual report of 1886.
The Secretary reneWs the recommen-
dation in regard to the enactment of
laws for the punishment for civilian
witnesses who refuse to testify; for
authority to secure the assistance of
civilians and police officers in arresting
and holding deserters, and for revi-
sion of the articles of war which have
remained unaltered here, while in Eng
land and elsewhere, the military codes
have been modified in accordance with
the requirements of modern times.
The Secretary recommends legislation
regulating and making uniform the
punishment that may be inflicted by
court martials; defining the applica-
ton of the statutes of limitation in the
case of deserters, and fixing the liability
of minors to military jurisdiction after
enlistment.
The report shows the expenditures of
the department during the fiscal year to
amount to Sal. 386. 1875. The estimates
for the next fiscal year aggregate $685.
1888, 710, against an appropriation for the
current year Of SD, 055 302. The increase
is caused by the incorporation of esti-
mates of $50, 339, ISL for public works,
including river and harbor improve
ments, the expenditures on this account
for the current year amounting to only
81, 308, 409.
The Secretary says: The estimates
70 hi &c re
based on the actual requirements of the
service. During recent years, the ap-
preparation for transportation of the
army has been inadequate to meet the
cost thereof, and the failure to appro-
pirate funds for that service has caused
much embarrassment.
The Secretary refers to General Soho
fields recommendation that at least
one eighth inch muzzle-loading gun,
with appliances for target practice, and
one or more breech-loading guns and
mortars be furnished each military post,
with view to the improvement of ar
tilery instruction.
Touching Geronimo and his fellow
captives, now confined at Fort Pickens
and Mount Vernon barracks, the report
saws that at this time it is q difficult
matter to find for them a permanent
possible to return them to Arizona.
Under existing laws they can
not be taken to Indian
Territory, and in the northern
reservations the climate is too cold for
them.
The report refers, briefly, to the diff
Guilty in August last in Colorado be-
tween the State authorities and Col
crows band or Utes, and says an effort
should be made for restoration of their
property to the Indians.
The report approves of the recon-
mendation in General SheEdan's re-
port, touching the extension Of all pos
sible aid by the general government to
the nations guards of the different
States and suggesting system of ma
tional encampments for the State mill
tias at the expense Of the national gov
eTnm ant.
cts only a question of time," and a
short time, too, as to when your rheu
,yoa4iss1 MILL Uiald I'm H00dt9 SarSa